Not by the valour of Belgium, nor the lightning sabre of France, Not by the thunder of Britain's Fleet, and the Bear's unchecked advance, Not by these fears, Lord Kaiser, tho' they shatter a tyrant's lust, Is your heart most darkly troubled, and your soul brought down to the dust. But by the great affirming of the lands we have knit as one; By the love, by the passionate loyal love, of each separate freeborn son. Canada cries, "We are coming!" and Australasia, "We come!" And you scowl that no Boer is rising at the beat of your German drum. And the sons of Ind bear witness—"We have grumbled, but now no more; We have shared your plentiful righteous Peace, we will share your righteous War. Trust us to guard your Honour, one with yours is our breath; Here in these rain-swept islands where we fought for the things of peace, Where we quarrelled and stormed in factions, at a stroke all factions cease; And there in the vast dominions, more free than your Prussian lords, The women are shouting for England and the men are drawing their swords. Harold Begbie By permission of the Author |